...to the Sublime

George Harrison, Reconsidered

Just got around to watching the new HBO documentary directed by Martin Scorsese about "The Quiet Beatle." I've always had an appreciation for George Harrison's talents, but I came to admire him more as a person after watching the film. There's a lot of footage that was new to me, and Scorsese and his editor made some nice choices. Harrison seemed the most genuine of the Fab Four--certainly more so than Paul McCartney, who can't seem to help himself, even when praising his former mate. Ringo tells some nice tales, particularly about his final moments with George.

Harrison's widow, Olivia Arias, was a co-executive producer of the film. She was born in Mexico City, but raised in L.A. Arias famously helped fight off the attacker who broke into their home and assaulted Harrison in late 1999. (It's not recounted in the doc but, soon after the incident, Tom Petty reportedly sent Harrison a fax that said: "Aren't you glad you married a Mexican girl?")

I learned that Harrison invited Eric Clapton to play on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"--one of the few times that an outsider played on a Beatles record. It's my favorite Harrison song, and here's Todd Rundgren's version from a tribute album. It's a pretty faithful rendition, but Rundgren totally shreds the guitar solo.

01 While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Mahalia Jackson, b. Oct. 26, 1911

Today is the 100th anniversary of Mahalia Jackson's birth. She's long been considered the greatest gospel singer ever, and it's hard to argue with that claim. She first recorded this song in 1947 with just piano and organ backing, then re-recorded it again for Columbia in 1954 with a full band. The song, which sold an astounding eight million copies, was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. In 2005, the Library of Congress honored the song by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock. That bluesy piano, by Mildred Falls, is fantastic. Jackson, who was born in New Orleans, died in 1972 in Chicago.

Download 1-23 I Will Move On Up A Little Higher

A New Western Operetta

Rude Mechs is a zany, brainy, Austin-based theater company that's become a favorite here in L.A. I first saw them in 2002 when they performed a Dadaist adaptation of Greil Marcus' book about punk music, "Lipstick Traces." They're back with "I've Never Been So Happy," which the company calls "a new western operetta" (at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City through Oct. 23). It's performed by a large cast of talented actors/singers, accompanied by a six-piece band that includes four violinists. L.A. Times drama critic Charles McNulty nailed it in his review, giving the show "more points for style than substance," and it does seem like an expensive lark, but it's undeniably fun to watch and listen to. And you've got to love a show that has a song with these quintessentially Austin-tatious lyrics:

I’ve never been so happy to have friends.

Let’s find a way to hang out forever.

My sister has a beach house in Corpus.

I’m going there tomorrow

will you come?

We’ll make the perfect movie and get rich.

Then we’ll retire wealthy in Texas

I need two hundred dollars

Before noon

Let’s have a conversation

About drugs

I have an old quilt blanket

and whiskey.

We’ll talk and fuck and goof off

‘til morning.

Then go get breakfast tacos

and sleep late.

I’ve never been so happy

in my life.

It’s the end.

Thom Bell: Hit Machine

Was recently sitting in a bar with a buddy when the DJ played "People Make the World Go 'Round." My pal understandably guessed that it was a Burt Bacharach song. Understandable because it has that level of pop sophistication and the lead singer sounds a little like Dionne Warwick. But The Stylistics' hit was actually produced and co-written by Thom Bell (above, center), who was an integral part of the '70s Philly soul scene led by Leon Huff (left) and Kenny Gamble (right).

Bell got his start writing and producing for The Delfonics, including their hits "La La Means I Love You" and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind." He began working with The Stylistics and co-wrote many of their hits with Linda Creed (nee Epstein). He then moved on to The Spinners, for whom he produced "I'll Be Around" (also co-wrote) and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love." And then there was Elton John's "The Thom Bell Sessions," which included "Mama Can't Buy You Love." In 1975 Bell won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. And he produced a couple of great tracks on David Byrne's "Look Into the Eyeball."

But let's go back to The Stylistics. This is my favorite song of theirs. It's just beautifully arranged and orchestrated. But I also love it because it hasn't been played to death on oldies stations. Those predictable playlists have killed many songs for me, including all the other Stylistics' hits. I can easily go the rest of my life without hearing "Betcha By Golly, Wow" again. (Not to mention Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"; don't get me started.)

One more thing--listen for these still relevant lyrics: Wall Street losin' dough on ev'ry share / They're blaming it on longer hair / Big men smokin' in their easy chairs / On a fat cigar without a care

Download 10 People Make the World Go Round

 

Under the Covers: "Poor Side of Town"

Nick Lowe is one of those artists who I should've paid more attention to in recent years. Sure, I know his early New Wave-era successes: "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass," "Cruel to be Kind" and "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?" But I haven't followed his more mature singer/songwriter phase. I recently came across this album from 2001, which includes a magnificent cover of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town." Lowe does away with the original's cheesy background vocals and adds a soulful organ. I've been playing it over and over...

Download 07 Poor Side of Town